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Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will make next start on backfields. Here's why
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- Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will make next start on backfields. Here's why
NORTH PORT, Fla. — The next start for Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will take place on the back fields.
Skubal is scheduled to pitch a simulated game in TigerTown in Lakeland, Florida, against some of his teammates. He was lined up to start Sunday against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, but there's a reason why Skubal won't make the road trip.
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Strategy .
The Tigers and Mets play against each other in the second series of the regular season, a three-game set April 1-3 at Citi Field in New York.
There's no reason for the Tigers to give the Mets an opportunity to prepare for Skubal in a spring training game. He will start Opening Day on March 28 against the Chicago White Sox , followed by April 2 against the Mets.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal stretches during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
After Wednesday's off day, the Tigers play a split-squad Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees . Right-hander Kenta Maeda will start in Lakeland against the Blue Jays; right-hander Jack Flaherty will start in Tampa against the Yankees.
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Right-hander Casey Mize , who is still searching for his fastball command in return from elbow surgery, will start Friday against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota. Right-hander Matt Manning , who is looking to build upon dominance in his first two starts, will start Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Lakeland.
The starter for Sunday's game against the Mets, since it's not Skubal, has not been determined yet, but the Tigers are expected to take a lot of their regular position players on the two-day trip to southeast Florida. After Port St. Lucie, the Tigers travel south to West Palm Beach for Monday's game against the Houston Astros .
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Cleared to play
After three bullpen sessions, right-handed reliever Brendan White has been cleared for all baseball activities in spring training.
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The 25-year-old reported posterior elbow discomfort in the first week of spring training. The right elbow soreness forced him to rest his arm before restarting his throwing program.
White, who appeared in 33 games for the Tigers last season, seems likely to pitch out of the bullpen for Triple-A Toledo when the 2024 season begins.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Brendan White during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
White, a former 26th-round draft pick, posted a 5.09 ERA with 15 walks and 44 strikeouts across 40⅔ innings for the Tigers last season, making his MLB debut in June 2023. He also registered a 4.14 ERA with 11 walks and 50 strikeouts across 37 innings in Toledo.
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Now that he's healthy, White will advance his volume in preparation for the season. He should appear in his first spring training game at some point soon.
Other injuries
Two pitchers are still recovering from injuries: Right-handed reliever Sawyer Gipson-Long (left groin strain) continues to progress through his throwing and running progressions, while right-handed reliever Garrett Hill (right lat/shoulder strain) continues his rehabilitation daily.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal will make next start on backfields
